COWBOYS 37 - GIANTS 34
It was one of the wildest games of the season, full of twists and turns, but don't tell anyone that the Cowboys didn't have a singular purpose in mind when they beat the Giants 37-34 on Sunday.
Win one for Dak.
That had to be the message and the mindset for Dallas after its star quarterback went down with an ankle injury mid-way through the third quarter. Prescott had the Boys moving into Giants territory with Dallas clinging to a one-point lead of 24-23. As he tried to avoid a defender he rolled badly on his ankle as he was tackled.
He sat up with tears in his eyes, knowing full well that this was bad as the Cowboys training staff stabilized his foot and sent the Pro Bowler on his way to the hospital. While the Prescott injury was the main headline coming out of Cowboys 37, Giants 34, it was not the only story.
The Giants held a 14-3 lead after Kyler Fackrell picked off Prescott and dashed into the end zone for a touchdown from 46-yards out with 5:48 to play in the first quarter. The Giants built their to lead to as large at 17-3, before everything came apart at the seams.
After Prescott led Dallas on a long touchdown drive that cut the Giants lead to 17-10, Giants quarterback Daniel Jones -- as he's apt to do - fumbled the football at the Giants own 37-yard line. Anthony Brown picked up the loose ball and dashed into the end zone, tying the game at 17 with 5:00 to go before halftime.
What made matters even worse for the Giants was the fact that holder Reily Dixon hit Evan Engram on a wide open, walk-in touchdown on a fake field goal attempt that totally fooled Dallas, was called back for an illegal shift.
Instead of it being 24-17 Giants, New York had to settle for a Graham Gano field goal to make it 20-17.
That was a huge difference in the game.
The botched special teams attempt was promptly answered by another Cowboys touchdown, this time on a double reverse with Prescott playing wide receiver, and catching a ball from Cedrick Wilson to give Dallas a 24-20 lead at the break.
Again, early in the third quarter, the Giants had an opportunity. Daniel Jones was moving the team well, and even connected with Darious Slayton on a beautiful 31-yard touchdown strike. But that score was also called back for an offensive pass interference penalty on Big Blue. Another touchdown whipped off the board.
The Giants had the settle for three more points to cut the deficit to 24-23.
There was even a drive early in the fourth quarter where Big Blue got deep into Dallas territory, before stalling at the Cowboys 10. Again another Gano field goal, cutting the deficit to 31-26.
Had the Giants scored at least one touchdown on these drives, even two, they would have walked out of Dallas the winners.
Instead the Giants couldn't hold down back-up quarterback Andy Dalton and Company as the Cowboys stormed back late from a 34-31 deficit to win the game. with :52 seconds to go in regulation, and with the ball at their own 12, the Cowboys went for the win instead of settling for overtime. It proved to be the right strategy.
Dalton connected with Michael Gallop on two incredible passes, one for 19-yards and another for a 38-yard pick-up to the Giants' 16-yard line. That was good enough to set up for the winning field goal from Greg Zuerlein as time expired.
While it was a wild and emotional win for Dallas, it was a blown opportunity for the Giants. A win would have moved the Giants into second place in the woeful NFC East, where the Cowboys now sit atop the division at 2-3.
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